New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 120

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

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Mr. Szabo was twice married, his first marriage, to Miss Kate Kelly, occurring during his early man- hood. There was born to this union one child, a daughter, now Mrs. Eloise Eleanora Witte, now widowed and living at Houston. Mr. Szabo was married the second time to Miss Harriet Marian Baker, who was brought to the Lone Star State by her mother in 1853, shortly after the death of her father. Her brother, W. R. Baker, was the pioneer merchant of Houston, owning and conduct- ing the first general store in Houston. He was the builder and owner of the first eight miles of the H. and T. C. Railroad out of Houston. When he first came here the site of Houston was a virgin forest, and he helped to cut out with an axe the road that is now Main Street. He became the wealthiest man in Houston and later served the city as its mayor. Mr. Szabo had one child by this union, Marian Bagby Szabo, wife of Judge Charles E. Ashe of the 11th District, for over a quarter of a century and grandson of Anson Jones, the last president of the Texas Republic. They have one child, a daughter, Marjorie. After Mr. Szabo's death his widow has made her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Ashe, at 1116 West Main Street.

Mr. Szabo was a man whose dignified bearing would command respect in any company. He was moreover a man of great intellectual power, with a talent for affairs, a keen judgment and skill in the accomplishment of affairs, and consequently qualified to assume a place of leadership in his community. His devotion to the interests of his city and the welfare of his fellowmen was one of his characteristics and entered into all his business relations, as well as the efficient manner in which he managed the funds of the city while holding the position of city treasurer. He had a genuine and sympathetic feeling for those less fortunate than himself, and his fine benevolence was entirely with- out ostentation. His death, in 1905, at the age of seventy-four years, was mourned through the entire city, every resident of which honored this venerable pioneer whose life, and that of Houston's prosperity, was so closely intermingled.

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MEN OF TEXAS

T. CAMPBELL. The name of W. T. Camp- bell is interwoven with the oil history at its very beginning in Texas, as well as in other fields of activity in this State. He was one of the organizers and manager of the Hogg- Swayne Syndicate, which was the forerunner of The Texas Company, one of the leading oil com- panies of this nation. In April, 1901, Mr. Camp- bell organized a partnership composed of Ex-Gov- ernor Jas. S. Hogg, Jas. W. Swayne, R. E. Brooks, A. S. Fisher and himself, which he designated the "Hogg-Swayne Syndicate," of which he was made agent and general manager. This syndicate pur- chased from J. M. Page of Georgetown, Texas, the fee of fifteen acres of land in Spindle Top, then under an oil lease to the J. M. Guffey Company, and at the same time purchased from the Guffey Com- pany a release or cancellation of said lease, thus giv- ing the Hogg-Swayne Syndicate a tract of fifteen acres of proven oil gusher territory on Spindle Top, which they placed on the market in small tracts. By an instrument dated December 19th, 1901, the Hogg- Swayne Syndicate, by W. T. Campbell, manager, and W. T. Campbell, R. E. Brooks, R. Oliver, S. E. Moss and A. S. Fisher, as second parties, and J. S. Cullinan, as first party, entered into a contract tak- ing over the Texas Fuel Company. It was originally organized with a capital of $150,000.00, all furnished by the Hogg-Swayne Syndicate, and the manage- ment of it placed under Mr. J. S. Cullinan. Its capital stock was increased from time to time. The Texas Fuel Company later by the changing of its name became The Texas Company.

W. T. Campbell was born in London, England, on March 7th, 1859, and was educated at Rugby. In 1875 he came to America, landing in Galveston, Texas. In Cincinnati, Ohio, he learned the printers trade, and spent several years in the newspaper and banking business in Ohio and Texas. The great- er part of his life was spent as a newspaper man, during which time he organized several newspapers in this State. Soon after arriving in Beaumont in March, 1901, two months after the bringing in of the Lucas gusher on Spindle Top, he organized the Citizens National Bank of Beaumont, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. Rod Oliver was president; E. J. Marshall, first vice president; W. T. Campbell, second vice president, and W. L. Murphy, cashier. His activities were not confined, however, to banking and newspapers, for he also was engaged for a period in the grain business with offices in Lampasas, San Angelo, Temple and Fort Worth, Texas.

In May, 1880, Mr. Campbell was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah J. Turnbull, a native of Ohio, who now resides in Lampasas, Texas. To this union were born the following children: Mary, the wife of W. M. Abbey, a well known business man of Del Rio, Texas; H. V., a rancher and business man of Lampasas, Texas; Sadie, the wife of R. L. Blaffer, vice president and treasurer of the Humble Oil and Refining Company, and W. T., Jr., a business man of Houston, Texas.

In the passing of W. T. Campbell on April 5th, 1906. Texas lost a pioneer, a man of vision, who seemed to have anticipated the future of the oil in- dustry. His life was cut short at the time that the petroleum industry was at its beginning in this State, and at the time that it was taking its place

among the major fields of activity in this country. At the time of his death he was associated with a group of men whom today are recognized as leaders in the oil fraternity, and had he lived, without doubt, he also would have taken his place with these leaders. Although successful in his business en- terprises, he did not shirk his duties to society, but he was always interested in civic and social affairs in the communities where he resided. He was a de- voted husband and father, and spent his leisure time with his family. In every way he measured up to the finest type of citizenship, and his name is Ie- corded as a man who contributed to the develop- ment and history of his adopted State.

T. CAMPBELL, JR., for the past year and a half has been identified with the social and commercial life of Houston, and is be- coming well known among the younger business men of this city. In addition to looking after his personal interests, and those of members of his family, he is secretary and treasurer of the Mission Sales Corporation, with offices in the First National Bank Building. Realizing the growing im- portance of Houston as a great oil center, as well as the metropolis of the Southwest, he came to this city to make it his permanent headquarters, and was one of the organizers of the Mission Sales Corporation, that is engaged in the distribution of various oil field specialties. The company has care- fully selected a number of improved and patented articles that have been tested and found to be valuable equipment to the petroleum fraternity. Among these may be mentioned pump pistons, pump valves and seats. From time to time the company will add other tried oil field accessories. The com- pany was organized December 2nd, 1925, and the other officers are Harry Gordon, president, and Walter B. Sharp, vice president.

W. T. Campbell, Jr., is a native Texan, born in Lampasas, September 29th, 1895, son of W. T. and Sarah (Turnbull) Campbell. W. T. Campbell, Sr., (deceased), was a native of England, who came to Texas in 1875, and was an outstanding business man of this State during his life time, being one of the organizers of the Hogg-Swayne Syndicate, of which he was the manager. The Hogg-Swayne Syndicate took over the Texas Fuel Company which became The Texas Company. A sketch of the life of W. T. Campbell, Sr., will be found elsewhere in these volumes. Mrs. Sarah Turnbull Campbell is a native of Ohio and is a resident of Lampasas, Texas. W. T. Campbell, Jr., received his education in the schools of Lampasas, the Princeton Preparatory School, from which he graduated in 1914, and the University of Virginia, which he attended three years. His college career was interrupted by the World War. He entered the army on May 8th, 1917, attending the First Officers Training School at Leon Springs, where he was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He was later promoted to a First Lieutenancy, and was discharged on January 19th, 1919. From that time to 1921 he was with the Humble Oil and Refining Company at Wichita Falls, Texas. Since leaving this company he has been engaged in business for himself in Lampasas and in Houston. He and his family have large land holdings in Lampasas and Burnet counties. Some of this land is improved to agriculture, while other parts of it is used for sheep

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

grazing.

On June 9th, 1920, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage in Lampasas to Miss Lula Key, a native of that city, and a daughter of J. R. and Lula (Harold) Key. J. R. Key is one of the leading busi- ness men of Texas, and is president of the Key Brothers Whoesale Grocery Company of Lampasas, and is a director and former president of the First National Bank of that city. Mrs. Lula Harold Key, (deceased) was a member of a well known Texas family, and a niece of the late George Littlefield of Austin. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic fraternity at Dallas, Moslah Temple Shrine, Fort Worth; the Delta Kappa Epsilon' College Fraternity, River Oaks Country Club and the Episcopal Church. The family resides on Inwood Drive, River Oaks. Since removing to Houston, Mr. Campbell has adopted the progres- sive spirit of the city, realizing its great opportuni- ties and future, and is contributing his share to its further advancement as a commercial and social center.

OHN C. GARROTT of Houston, Texas, as a very young man started in the brass man- ufacturing industry and has spent his en- tire business career in the several branches of this business. Mr. Garrott owns and operates the Garrott Brass and Machine Company, which is en- gaged in general foundry work, making brass, bronze and aluminum castings. This company was established here in 1920, equipping same with modern machinery, making it one of the most modern and efficient plants of its kind in this part of the State. In addition to the large business in castings, the Garrott Brass and, Machine Company manufacture a general line of brass replacement parts for all oil field equipment and this branch of the business has grown to large proportions. Fif- teen people, who are skilled in their particular lines, are employed in the operation of the Garrott Brass and Machine Company's plant which is located at 1112 Wood Street.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Garrott was born at Groveton on April 12th, 1892. His father, T. R. Garrott, a native of Alabama, is well known in the commercial life of East and West Texas. His mother, Mrs. Nannie (Collier) Crawford, was a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a pioneer family. Being a daughter of Zach Collier of Townbluff, Texas. His education was obtained in the several schools of Texas. Since a mere boy Mr. Garrott had a liking for things mechanical and a natural desire to enter a business of this kind, which in a measure accounts for his signal success in this industry. While he is one of the younger members of the busi- ness fraternity of Houston, he has made his in- fluence felt here.

Mr. Garrott resides at 1107 Marshall Avenue. He is a member of the River Oaks Country Club, the Glenbrook Country Club, the Houston Launch Club, the Houston Yacht Club, the Rotary Club, the Pur- chasing Agents Club of Houston, the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Cove Hunting and Fish- ing Club, the American Foundrymen's Association, and many other social and commercial organiza- tions of Houston and South Texas, in all of which he takes an active interest and is very popular. Mr. Garrott is a consistent booster for Houston and be- lieves that with the deep water and railroad facilities

of this city that it will soon become the largest of the entire Southwest. The Garrott Brass & Machine Company has become an outstanding institution here and its business is not confined to this city, but its manufactured products are shipped to all parts of Texas and contiguous States. Mr. Garrott is am- bitious for his city and his business, and puts forth his every effort in the upbuilding of both, and is proud of the fact he is growing with Houston.

R. HEPWORTH of Houston, Texas, with his brother, W. J. Hepworth, as a partner, owns and operates the Crescent Oil Com- pany, Harrisburg, and are wholesale dealers in petroleum products, pipe line and roof paints. This company was established here in November, 1923, its products being sold since that time in practically every county in South Texas. This com- pany also maintains an office in Galveston, Texas, in order to give better service to its many customers in that part of the State. Fifteen experienced people are employed in the operation of the Crescent Oil Company, and a fleet consisting of eleven cars and trucks are used in its delivery system. Since the beginning of business after organization, the sales of this company have increased in volume to a won- derful extent and during the first three months of 1926, their sales showed an increase of 100 per cent. The offices and plant of the Crescent Oil Company are located on Manchester Avenue, Harrisburg.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Hepworth was born at San Antonio on September 10th, 1896. His father, W. F. Hepworth, also a native of the Lone Star State, has throughout his life been active in the business and agricultural life of South Texas. His mother, Mrs. Laura (Shermeyer) Hepworth, was also a native Texan and a member of a pioneer family. His education was obtained in the various schools of the State, mostly in the Houston schools. He started his business career with the Kirby Lum- ber Company, remaining with this organization for three years, later going to West Texas, where he remained for about three years. During the period in which he was located in West Texas, he was em- ployed by the government for a time as salvage foreman in the quartermaster's department. He then returned to South Texas and became associated with the Humble Oil and Refining Company at Baytown, remaining with this company for five years, before entering his present field of activity with his brother, who is also well known in the business and oil circles of South Texas.

Mr. Hepworth was married at Houston, Texas, on February 15th, 1916, to Miss Hazel Clark, a daugh- ter of C. E. Clark (deceased), who was a native of New York State and a member of a well known Eastern family. Her mother, Mrs. Lettie Josephine (DeWolf) Clark, was a native Texan and a member of one of this State's oldest families. They have one child, Helen Hazel, eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hepworth reside at the corner of Manchester and San Antonio streets in Harrisburg, Texas. While Mr. Hepworth is a member of the younger genera- tion of Houston's business men, he has long been regarded as a leader in his field of activity. He has made a study of petroleum and its products and is an authority on the various branches of this business and is considered one of South Texas' most enter- prising young business men.

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MEN OF TEXAS

LBERT L. NELMS was for more than forty years prominently identified with the busi- ness life of Houston, Texas, and was a pow- er in the foundation building of this city. He was a pioneer in the cotton industry of the Lone Star State and was of that earlier company who made Houston the greatest inland cotton market of the world. Mr. Nelms was one of the most widely known cotton men of this state and was the founder and executive head of the firm of A. L. Nelms and Sons, which grew to be one of the best known cot- ton firms of the Southwest. He came to Houston, Texas, when about eighteen years of age, and at that time cotton was the chief dependence of this city and section and it was natural that he engage in this field of activity, which he followed through- out the remainder of his life.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Nelms was born at Grif- fin on October 9th, 1863. His parents were pioneer citizens of that state. His education was obtained in the Georgia public schools which he left at an early age in order to come to Texas, where he located at Houston and joined the cotton firm of Inman Com- pany, which firm had come to Texas from Atlanta, Georgia, the same year, 1882. He remained with this firm until changes were made in the personnel, and became known as Inman and Read. On the death of William M. Read, the firm name was changed to Inman, Nelms and Company, the part- ners being Harry Inman and the subject of this sketch. Later, Henry Inman retired, and the firm became Nelms, Kehoe and Company, with Thomas Kehoe as the added member of the firm. About 1918 Mr. Kehoe retired and the firm became A. L. Nelms and Sons, including A. L. Nelms, Jr., Hay- wood Nelms and Irwin Nelms-the three sons of Mr. Nelms. The chief business of this firm was the buying of spot cotton and shipping same to Euro- pean markets.

Mr. Nelms was married at Houston on March 22nd, 1888, to Miss Pearl Gearing, a native Hous- tonian. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Nelms are: Albert L., who married Miss Bess Williams, daugh- ter of Dr. and Mrs. T. P. Williams of Houston; Frank Haywood, who married Miss Agnes Carter, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Carter of Hous- ton; Mildred, now the wife of Walter L. Conover, ship broker of Houston, and Irwin Nelms. Mr. Nelms was for several terms president of the Hous- ton Cotton Exchange and was active in many of the city's social and commercial organizations. He was a consistent member of the First Methodist Church and was a leader in all of the activities of this church. Mr. Nelms died at his home in Houston, Texas, on July 20th, 1925. His death brought sor- row to friends throughout the city of Houston and in all portions of the state. While Mr. Nelms had for more than two score years been a factor in the business and cotton circles of Houston, his energies and his financial power were not entirely devoted to finance and cotton.

AMES McNIE SHAW, pioneer of the Lone Star State, and a veteran oil operator, whose highly successful efforts in behalf of the development of this great industry made him a figure of state-wide prominence, was associated with oil operations from the days of the first boom at Beaumont. During his latter years Mr. Shaw was identified with oil operations in the

coastal fields, making his home at Houston, and this city can boast of no truer, more generous citi- zen than this splendid man who gave so largely of his time and means for the encouragement of activities of civic importance.

James McNie Shaw was a native of Scotland, the son of Robert Shaw, also a Scotsman, who came to Texas during the early pioneer days, bringing with him his family, and settled in Grimes County. His death occurred at Navasota. Mr. Shaw's mother, Helen Shaw, died when her son, the subject of our sketch, was a lad of twelve years. As a boy, James McNie Shaw began working for the Columbus Times, at Columbus, Texas, and was with that newspaper for a number of years, later returning to Navasota, in Grimes County. He remained there until the be- ginning of the oil boom at Beaumont, when he went to that city and was in the oil field from the first. Later he was at Spindle Top, Saratoga, and Sour Lake, when each of these fields was the center of oil operations and in the beginning of the big booms there. He began with the Rio Bravo Oil Company, and the East Coast Oil Company, owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad, as Field Superintendent, and had charge of all field work from the beginning of operations in the coastal fields until his death. He also had charge of all the operations of these com- panies in the Mexico oil fields, and was one of the most widely known oil operators in the Lone Star State. There were few men more thoroughly con- versant with every phase of oil development than he, and few more qualified to direct development operations. A real "old-timer," oil men everywhere knew him, and valued his opinion, and he had hun- dreds of friends in the Texas, Louisiana and Mexico fields. At the time of his death he was Assistant Manager of the East Coast Oil Company, and Su- perintendent of the Rio Bravo Oil Company.

Mr. Shaw was married at Anderson, Grimes Coun- ty, Texas, the seventh of November, 1876, to Miss Alice Hicklir, a native of Bourbon, Kentucky, and the daughter of Thomas Hicklir, also of that state, who came to Texas in 1855, and settled at Seguin, living there until his death. Her mother, before her marriage, Miss Fannie Burr, of Kentucky, lived to be ninety-three years of age. Mrs. Shaw was the true type of "home" woman, delighting in husband and family, and creating a home life that made it a pleasure to be a guest in that home and see the harmony and contentment that prevailed. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw had three children, Lillian, wife of Horace Knox, a real estate and insurance man of Navasota, Texas; Lucile, wife of McDonald Meach- um, an attorney of Houston, and who has two children, Marguerette, and Lucile Loraine; and Rob- ert W. Shaw, who married Miss Anna Lou Gana- way. The family home in Houston is at 219 Avon- dale Avenue.

Mr. Shaw died at Houston, the third of November, 1922, after a long illness, and was laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery. His passing was the cause of sincere regret on the part of the entire oil fra- ternity, who sent many expressions of sympathy to the bereaved family. He was a honored member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge, and well-known to Masons throughout the state. Few men have lived their lives so usefully, and have accounted so well for themselves in the world, and his life will be an inspiration to all who knew him.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ACOB KELLER, whose name for many years was associated with useful activities of both a business and civic prominence in Houston, took an important part in the de- velopment of the wholesale grocery business in this section, and acquired both wealth and business lead- ership. Mr. Keller was identified with the wholesale grocery business throughout his business career, building up the Theo. Keller Wholesale Grocery Company, with which he was associated and he gave his interested attention to the management of every detail of this concern. The Theo. Keller Wholesale Grocery Compny dates back to the early days of Houston's history, and was founded by the late Theo. Keller, the uncle of the subject of this sketch, and father of Mrs. Jacob Keller. The firm still con- tinues in operation and is one of the largest in the city.

Jacob Keller was born in Germany and received his early education in that country. At the age of fif- teen he came to the United States, coming direct to Houston, where he made his home with Theo. Keller, whose daughter he later married. He began work for the Theo. Keller Wholesale Grocery Company, working in every department and acquiring an ex- pert knowledge of the operation of the business. He represented the firm on the road for many years, and was later made manager of the business, holding this position until his death, January 11, 1910.

Mr. Keller was married in Houston, the twenty- first of October, 1891, to Miss Blanche Keller, daugh- ter of Theo. Keller, who came to the United States from Germany as a young man. Theo. Keller gained his first business experience with M. L. Westheimer, for whom he worked a number of years. In 1868, he went into business for himself, operating a re- tail grocery store. Later he entered the wholesale grocery business, and at the time of his death he owned one of the largest wholesale grocery busi- nesses in the state. He was married to Miss Mathilde Hirsch, a native of France, who came to the United States as a young lady, and by whom he had a fam- ily of six children. The surviving are Blanche, the widow of Jacob Keller, and Ike, Max and Alexander, all of whom are members of the firm of Theo. Keller Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Keller had a family of four children, Jules, who married Miss Selma Dreeben, and who has two children, Aaron J. and Evelyn E .; Isadore A .; Max I., and a daughter, Corinne K., wife of Abe Litowich, and who has one child, Jacqueline Blanche. Mrs. Keller makes her home in the Jacob Keller homeplace, 1618 Rusk Avenue. In the death of Mr. Keller Houston lost a business man who had done much in a material way for his city. Dur- ing his lifetime, he was a member of various civic and social organizations, and was a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. Mr. Keller was a man of most pleasing and striking personality, a keen business man and a true friend. He was a generous con- tributor to every worthy cause, giving as freely as he received, and left a host of friends who sincerely mourned his passing.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 120

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416